Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $352 per month in Quetta vs $427 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $550 per month in Quetta vs $665 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $748 per month in Quetta vs $902 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Quetta is about 18% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quetta and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 74% lower, Rawalpindi 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 PKR 960

$1.75 PKR 485

97.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.69 PKR 2,972

$14.18 PKR 3,942

-24.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.40 PKR 1,223

$5.18 PKR 1,441

-15.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

$1.56 PKR 435

15.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 PKR 435

$3.42 PKR 951

-54.09%

Cappuccino

$1.62 PKR 449

$1.67 PKR 464

-2.99%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$0.34 PKR 95.4

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.2

$0.21 PKR 58.1

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 PKR 207

$0.80 PKR 221

-7.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 PKR 129

$0.56 PKR 156

-17.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$1.29 PKR 358

-17.05%

Eggs

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.17 PKR 326

-7.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 PKR 1,652

$6.08 PKR 1,690

-2.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 PKR 691

$3.33 PKR 926

-25.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 PKR 1,178

$4.52 PKR 1,256

-6.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PKR 298

$0.99 PKR 275

8.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.64 PKR 178

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$0.92 PKR 256

-38.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$0.51 PKR 141

1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 80.6

$0.36 PKR 100

-19.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 139

$0.49 PKR 136

2.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 PKR 98.2

$0.24 PKR 66.7

45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 83.3

$0.40 PKR 110

-25.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.42 PKR 395

$16.38 PKR 4,554

-91.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 PKR 101

$1.02 PKR 285

-64.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 PKR 598

$2.28 PKR 635

-5.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.72 PKR 201

$1.90 PKR 530

-62.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 49.40

$0.20 PKR 55.9

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.36 PKR 1,491

$9.52 PKR 2,646

-43.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 PKR 92.5

$0.84 PKR 234

-60.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 PKR 180

$0.33 PKR 91.0

96.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PKR 479

$3.07 PKR 854

-43.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 266

$0.91 PKR 254

5.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K PKR 6.0M

$17.4K PKR 4.9M

23.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$12.3K PKR 3.4M

$22.9K PKR 6.4M

-46.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$100 PKR 27.9K

-47.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.38 PKR 1,774

$4.12 PKR 1,146

54.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.98 PKR 3,887

$16.38 PKR 4,555

-14.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.09 PKR 1,415

$10.15 PKR 2,821

-49.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 PKR 1,614

$7.73 PKR 2,150

-24.84%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 PKR 804

$3.61 PKR 1,005

-19.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$35.09 PKR 9,756

$40.70 PKR 11.3K

-13.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$424 PKR 117.8K

$965 PKR 268.4K

-56.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.22 PKR 2,006

$11.77 PKR 3,273

-38.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$6.98 PKR 1,941

$18.65 PKR 5,184

-62.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PKR 24.9K

$89.8 PKR 25.0K

-0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.19 PKR 8,116

$28.17 PKR 7,832

3.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.9 PKR 19.4K

$133 PKR 37.0K

-47.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

$65.5 PKR 18.2K

-23.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 PKR 43.7K

$333 PKR 92.6K

-52.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.5 PKR 26.6K

$172 PKR 47.9K

-44.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$381 PKR 106.0K

$1,130 PKR 314.2K

-66.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$220 PKR 61.3K

$511 PKR 142.1K

-56.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 PKR 59.3K

$173 PKR 48.2K

22.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.17

-40.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.9 in Quetta versus $133 in Rawalpindi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Quetta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Quetta versus $14.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $95.0 – making Quetta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Quetta vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $527 per month in Quetta and $641 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Quetta and $14.00 in Rawalpindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $352 in Quetta and $427 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quetta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Quetta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.